The primary weapon was identified as a crossbow; paramedics found the three women injured at around 19:00 and all died at the scene shortly afterwards.
A manhunt ensued, with police searching for Kyle Clifford, who was found injured the next day near his home in the London Borough of Enfield.
Over the next few days, however, he purchased a crossbow and bolts, a butcher knife, and an air rifle (which was not delivered), as well as large quantities of petrol, duct tape and rope.
It is likely Clifford waited for Carol to die of her stab wounds before he left the property at 15:07, returning to his car and retrieving the crossbow, which he took to the house concealed under a blanket.
[7] Louise was working at her dog grooming business in an outbuilding of the property, with customers coming and going during the afternoon through a side gate.
He used it to ask John when he would return home, and then searched online if unplugging a smoke detector fully disconnected it; he was allegedly planning to burn down the house.
At 18:52, Hannah messaged her boyfriend, Alex Klein, asking him to call the police and telling him that Clifford was tying her up, before her phone was set to silent.
[10][9] The police appealed for the public's help locating Clifford, warning that he was considered armed and dangerous and to call 999 rather than approach him.
[7] Police recovered the crossbow and Clifford was initially treated for his injuries at the cemetery before being taken to the Royal London Hospital.
[13] After being found on 10 July, he was taken to a nearby hospital and was treated for serious injuries; the police confirmed that no shots had been fired when they apprehended him.
[13] Clifford was arrested on the evening of 11 July, on suspicion of three counts of murder,[15] but remained in hospital unable to be questioned because of his injuries.
[18] On 19 December 2024 Clifford appeared remotely at Cambridge Crown Court where he pleaded not-guilty to the three counts of murder, as well as the charges of false imprisonment and of possessing an offensive weapon.
[20] He pleaded not-guilty to the charge of raping Louise Hunt,[20] with his defence arguing that the forensic evidence of sexual contact can be explained by the couple having consensual sex on 23 June 2024.
[14][21] Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the killings as "awful" and pledged that the government would look at crossbow legislation in response.